Overview & Reviews

Volkswagen is an automaker based in Germany. Its products typically command a higher price than those of competing models, but the return is a more upscale driving and ownership experience.

In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small, inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. His answer -- a beetle-shaped sedan that was called a Volkswagen (German for "people's car") -- debuted two years later. Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party's motto, "Joy through Strength"), and soon decided that Porsche's creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the "Joy through Strength" car). This upset Porsche, who was not political.

World War II delayed production of the vehicle; the factory suffered extensive damage during combat, and was ultimately taken over by the British Army. The company was renamed Volkswagen, and the town at the factory was renamed Wolfsburg (after Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who had been forced to surrender his land for the construction of the town and factory). By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle had begun. The model made its first appearance on U.S. shores in 1949.

The 1950s saw Volkswagen broadening its product range, adding the Bus (Type 2) to its lineup. The Bus, especially, proved quite popular due to its versatility. And the Beetle, which went on to become the best-selling car of all time, quickly showed signs of being an enduring favorite, with more than 1 million models produced at the Wolfsburg factory by 1955. This decade also saw the debut of the Karmann Ghia sports car, which featured a sleek, Italian-designed two-seater body atop a Beetle platform.

Volkswagen's star rose during the 1960s, its success fueled largely by the breakout success of the Beetle. The car benefited from an effective advertising campaign and from an appearance in a popular Disney movie. By the close of the decade, Volkswagen's yearly output of Beetles topped the 1 million mark.

In 1972, with more than 15 million units assembled, the Beetle topped the world production record set by Ford's Model T. Mid-decade saw the launch of a new era of Volkswagens that had front-mounted, water-cooled engines driving the front wheels. The Passat (Dasher in the U.S.) was the first of the new breed and was built using standardized components that could be used interchangeably among other models in the manufacturer's lineup. The Passat was soon joined by the Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.), which met with immediate success. By the end of the decade, the manufacturer's lineup had grown to include the Scirocco sport coupe and the performance-oriented Golf/Rabbit GTI. The Beetle, however, was discontinued for the U.S. market.

The Golf grew in popularity during the '80s, becoming Volkswagen's most popular model. When a second generation of the car was built in 1983, it was crafted in a mostly automated process using robots -- marking the first time robots had been used in vehicle manufacture. By the mid-'80s, the U.S. version traded the Rabbit name for "Golf." The higher-performance Golf GTI helped the manufacturer make waves on the rally circuit. In 1986, Volkswagen Motorsport nabbed the title of Group A World Rally Champions.

Volkswagen saw its sales in the North American market tumble during the early '90s, but by the end of the decade, refocused marketing efforts and an increased emphasis on new products had brought about a turnaround in the company's fortunes. The popular New Beetle helped put the company back on the radar in the United States (though it fared less successfully in European markets). The body style was based on the classic Beetle, and it struck a chord with consumers who still had a place in their hearts for the iconic, cheerful-looking "love bug."

The new millennium saw Volkswagen moving into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and executed, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Luckily, Volkswagen has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.

User Reviews:

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  2003 TDI wagon - 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
  By tdiwagonman - October 14 - 10:00 am

  A wonderful wagon, 5 speed, TDI, GLS, leather. Much better than I expected. So far 46-50 mpg in mixed driving. I expect over 50 on a trip.

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  Cut My Losses - 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Crazy for Buying - October 14 - 9:43 am

  I bought a 1999 Volkswagen Beetle for my daughter and the car was OK for 50,000 miles. Then it started having major repair bills. It overheated and cost $1,200 to replace the heads, after which it still did not work right. New brakes cost $300. We had to replace three headlights at $45 each. The motor kept giving her trouble. We spend another $1,200 on it and then it died. We put in a different motor had all kinds electrical problems. Eventually the car caught on fire and was totaled. Dont buy this car unless you want a money pit.

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  Great car!! - 2009 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Jay in Dallas - October 14 - 3:50 am

  I had never owned a front wheel drive, or a diesel or a Volkswagen. Im sold! The 6-speed manual shifts very smoothly and the engine has plenty of torque. It handles great - not much torque steer. Im 64" and am very comfortable on longer trips - even with the sunroof I have plenty of headroom. Huge trunk. The fit and finish couldnt be better. The safety features were a real selling point too. All that and 40 mpg. A lot of car for the money!

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  beetle review - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By streetracer2345 - October 13 - 3:16 am

  it is ghetto , it looks and handles poorly and you would do better buying a civic, they r cheaper.

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  I HATE MY NEW CAR! - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Steven - October 12 - 5:56 pm

  The one I bought is NOT like the one I test drove. Mine drives like a boat, or more accurately, my grandmothers Caddie. This does NOT drive like previous Passats (Ive owned three). I dont know what the rationale is, but it is NOT the car youve heard of; its redesigned by VERY old folks. Do yourself a favor: get the BMW 328i for the same price. If you "must" have a VW, get the sports package. The next four years are going to be the most miserable driving years of my life. I plan to drive my wifes older car as much as possible.

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  2nd to none - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Dougy - October 12 - 3:43 am

  I looked at em all and the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg is by far the best. My single complaint is that the V6 needs a little more get-up-and- go. The lack of power wouldnt keep me from buying the vehicle again, but it is a minor drawback. However, the positives far outweigh the negatives on this vehicle. It handles incredibly well given its weight - you actually feel safer because it feels like you are driving a tank built by Porsche. I almost didnt look at this vehicle because VW has done a poor of job advertising. Even their website and brochure do not describe this vehicle well. Some of the coolest features arent found in their literature. Believe me, one test drive & your hooked.

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  Best of both worlds! - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Amber - October 12 - 2:56 am

  I was in a unique situation when I was car shopping. Living in PA, I had to have AWD or 4WD, and I LOVE German engineering. After living in the south, I wanted fun, too. I traded an 07 Mercedes and an 06 Wrangler for the Tiguan. I looked at Volvo, Nissan, and Toyota, and this was the ONLY one that had the class and luxury that I was used to, while having one of the most competent AWD systems available. I am absolutely thrilled with my Tiguan. It is absolutely one of the most solid vehicles manufactured, and I smile every day I get to drive it.

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  piece of junk - 2007 Volkswagen Jetta
  By Kevin - October 11 - 8:33 pm

  I had a 1987 VW Jetta and I had the worst experience with it. I thought after 2 decades VW finally got better. Oh boy I was wrong. The 1987 was made in Canada and Mexico, and when it needed repairs I had to buy German parts at very high price to repair the car. Same story with the 2007 model. Its made in Mexico and the workmanship is VERY POOR. Just within 2 months the car started to fall apart. This car is a mechanical nightmare. No wonder more and more people buy Toyota. Just after 1 month the master cylinder (for brakes) needed replacement. 4 days ago, the car overheated on the way to Vegas. I made a huge mistake to buy this car. What good is 6 airbags when it is always in repair shop?!!

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  Boy, did I buy a Passat? - 2007 Volkswagen Passat
  By Wniece - October 11 - 3:06 pm

  Squeaks, rattles and all sorts of problems! The rubber seals in the doors squeak, the dashs sounds like it is coming apart and numerous mechanical issues! Worse car I have ever owned. And, the dealer can not find the Moroney Act sticker for the car, which is required for every new or untitled car sold in the US. Keep getting the brush off. They also sold it as new, only to find out it had 4,530 miles on it already! Does anyone know who to contact to take legal action against the dealership and VW...clearly they have broken the law and it is punishable up to a $250,000 fine. I guess one positive is that is looks really nice when it is cleaned up!

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  wouldnt recommend to my worst enemy! - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By cwhitfield - October 11 - 12:36 pm

  this car has given us so many headaches and theres not enough tylenol or advil to go around! we take care of our vehicles religously and do not drive them into the ground. within 13 months the following: rear drive shaft @ $2000 - yep, i said TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS!! this has 2 fuel pumps - so if the primary goes, so does the secondary! Primary @ $900; and the secondary @ $500 = $1300 - it poses itself as an alternator problem, but nope - it gets more expensive because its the fuel pumps! as for the battery - yes, primary and secondary too! and theyre an ass to get to..so good luck. youd probably save yourself a few hundred if you did this yourself